Valve action for wind musical instruments



Sept. 2 s, 1925. 1,501,555

F. A. BUESCHER VALVE ACTION FOR WIND MUSICAL ms'muusms Filed May 9. 19252 sheets-$116551 Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,555

F. A. BUESCHER VALVE ACTION FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed May 9,1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 )IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES FERDINAND A. BUESGHER, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

VALVE ACTION FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed May 9, 1925.

This invention relates to valved wind musical instruments and providesan improve ment in the valve construction whereby for any given bore ofwind pipe the length of valve stroke is shortened, enabling the musicianto operate more quickly in making a run or playing a quick passage.

In using an instrument equipped with valves of the regular length ofstroke, the musician is generally able to change the tone more quicklywith the mouth and tongue than he can by operating the valves, so thatthe length of stroke of the latter imposes a limitation upon the skillof the performer. The present invention aims to provide a constructionwhich avoids this limitation.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of the novel valve action of myimproved wind musical instrument.

Figure 2 is an end view seen from of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, taken along the line 33of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical diametrical section through one of the valvebarrels showing the piston in released position.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the piston in depressed position.

The construction of wind musical instruments of the type to which thisinvention relates is well known, a normally fixed length of the windpipe extending from the mouthpiece to the bell or outlet of theinstrument, there being other auxiliary sections of wind pipe inoperative relation to said main or fixed section, with valvesintercalated in said main section and associated with said auxiliarysections for connecting any or a number of the latter in series with themain section for the purpose of changing the length of the wind pipe toobtain the sevtral tones which the instrument is ca able of playing. Thefundamental pitch of the in strument is determined by the crosssectional area, of the wind pipe. In a cornet, which is an instrument ofsoprano pitch, the diameter of the wind pipe is usually one-half inch,for an alto instrument it is nine-sixteenths of an inch, for a baritone,the bore is about five-eighths of an inch in diameter, and abass,eleven-sixteenths of an inch or three quarters of an inch, dependingupon the size of the instrument. The valve, as

the top Serial No, 29,160.

usually constructed consists of a piston operating in a casing withwhich the main section of the wind pipe and one of the auxiliarysections communicate through ports opening in the wall of the casing,the valve piston being formed with passages of the same cross sectionalarea as the main and auxiliary sections of the wind pipe, which passinto and out of registry with said ports when the piston is moved toopen or closed position. It is therefore apparent that the length ofstroke necessary for the operation of the valve is directly proportionalto the diameter of the wind pipe, to which length must be added anadditional distance equal to the amount which the valve must overlap theports to prevent leakage from said ports when the latter are closed. Ina cornet, where the diameter of the wind pipe is relatively small, thestroke of the valve is of comparatively short length so that but-littletrouble is experienced in making the valve action keep up with the speedof the musician, but in a bass instrument in which the passage of thevalve must perform a transit across a wind pipe three quarters of aninch in diameter, the length of valve stroke is excessive so that theobjectionable sluggishness of the instrument is much in evidence. By myinvention the stroke of the valve in a bass instrument becomes as shortas that of the cornet, as at present known, and the length of valvestroke in a cornet becomes still shorter, making that instrument moresprightly in operation, as well as permitting a lighter return spring tobe used in the valve action, thereby making the valves easier tooperate.

My present invention will now be described by reference in detail to theseveral figures of the drawing in which the numeral 1 represents themain wind pipe adapted to be connected, at one end, 2, to a mouth piece,not shown, and at the other end 3, to the bell, not shown, of theinstrument. Cylindrical valve casings 4 are intercalated at intervals inthe main wind pipe, portions of the latter being constituted, withinsaid valve casings, by the passages 5 formed in the valve pistons 6.Auxiliary sections of the wind pipe are shown, consisting of the loops7, 8 and 9. The outer ends of said loops preferably consist of U-shapedslides 10,11 and 12 respectively, by means of which the lengths of saidloops may be adjustably varied. Each of the loops communicates at itsends with one of the valve casings, the valve pistons each beingprovided with a passage, adapted in certain positions of the valvepiston to place the loop with which it is associated in series with themain wind pipe and in other positions of the valve to cut oil said loopfrom communication with said wind pipe. The valve pistons 6 arereciprocable within the cylindrical valve *asings, making asubstantially fluid-tight tit therewith. Said pistons are depressedmanually against the tension of springs 13 ield in tensioned relation letween their lower ends and the lower ends of said casings. Said pistonsare automatically returned to normal position when released. by thetension of said springs.

The principle of my invention depends upon a mathematical tact that theareas of circles are to each other as the squares of their diameters.Therefore I find that by branchin the section of the main wind pipe asshown at it and 15 inFigure 2, to provide multiple sets of branches forsaid'main wind pipe, and by similarly branching the ends of the sections7, 8 and 9 ot the auxiliary wind pipe, to provide multiple sets ofbranches theretor, I can make the ends of said branched portions whichcommunicate with the valve casing. of the same aggregate area as theunbranched wind pipe or the unbranched auxiliary sections thereof and atthe same time have these branched portions or less diameter than thediameter of the unbranched wind pipe. Having done this I provide thevalve piston with a plurality of passages 5 simultaneously registrablewith the branched ends of the main wind pipe 2 and a plurality ofpassages 16 and simultaneously registrable with the branched ends 17 and18 of the auxiliary wind pipe sections, said passage lying in diti'erentzones.

lVhen the valve pistons are in normal po sition the passage 5 establishdirect communication through the wind pipe from the mouth piece to hell,the wind pipe being then of shortest length. In this position of thepistons the auxiliary wind pipe sections are not in communication withthe wind pipe.

lVhen anyone of the pistons is depressed its passage 5 is put out ofcommunication with the wind pipe. the auxiliary wind pipe sectioncontrolled by said piston being simultaneously connected in series withthe wind pipe, lengthening the latter. Since the auxiliary wind pipesections are of ditierent lengths and they can be connected in serieswith the wind pipe either singly or in combination with any of the otherauxiliary wind pipe sections it is apparent that quite a range ofvariation in the length or the wind pipe may be obtained.

As the diameters of the branches of the main wind pipe and the auxiliarywind pipe sections are of less length than the diameter of a single windpipe: or single auxiliary wind pipe section having the same aggregatecross sectional areas, it is obvious that the valves can perform theirtransitory function with a shorter length of stroke than can *alves, asheretofore used, with an unbranched wind pipe.

It is. to be understood that instead of branching the auxiliary windpipe sections,

they can be continued. double, or manit'old throughout their entirelengths, it being essential only to the broad concept. of'the inventionthat the aggregate cross sectional areas otthe several parallel conduitswhich constitute a single auxiliary windpipe section be equal to thecross sectional: area of a single auxiliary wind pipe sectionhaving thefundamental pitch ol the instrument.

It is to be understood also that, while I have conventionalized theembodiment of my invention somewhat in the drawingsby showing the loopedauxiliary windpipe sections extending rectilinearly, in practice theymay be made to follow the forms of'curvature customary in the design of:instrument to which the invention is applied.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A wind musical instrumentincluding .main wind pipe provided withmultiple sets of pipe branches; and with the aggregate cross sectionalarea of each set equalto the cross sectional area of the pipe, anauxiliary wind pipe provided with multiple sets of branches and with theaggregate cross sectional area of each set thereof equal to the crosssectional'area of the pipe, a valve intercalated inthe main wind pipebranches and in the auxiliarywind pipebranches for connecting the setsof the main wind pipe branches in multiple with the multiple sets of theauxiliary wind pipe branches, said valve having passagestosimultaneouslyol)- struct the main wind pipe branchesirom the auxiliary pipebranchesand connecting the main pipe branches together and further forestablishing communication between the main pipe brancheswith theauxiliary pipe branches.

2. A windmusical. instrument including a main wind pipeprovidcd. withmultiple pairs of pipe branchesandwith the aggregate cross sectionalareaoir'each set equal to the cross sectional area of the )l) an l l aauxiliary wind pipe provldedwlth multiple pairs of branches and withtheaggregate cross sectional area of each set thereof: equal to thecross sectional area ot'the pipe, a

valve intercalated inv the main wind pipe branches and in the auxiliarywind pipe branches for connecting the pairs of the main wind pipebranches inmultiple with the multiplepairs of" the auxiliary;- windpipebranches, said valve having passages to simultaneously obstruct themain wind pipe branches from the auxiliary pipe branches and connectingthe main pipe branches together and further for establishingcommunication between the main pipe branches with the auxiliary pipebranches, and said valve constructed with a length of strokesubstantially equal to the diameter of each of said branches.

A wind musical instrument including a main wind pipe, an auxiliary Windpipe, each of said pipes being provided with multiple sets of branches,the branches of each of said sets being of the same diameter, theaggregate cross sectional area of each set of main wind pipe branchesand the aggregate cross sectional area of each set of auxiliary windpipe branches being equal to the cross sectional area of the unbranched20 portion of their respective pipe, a valve mechanism including acasing into which the said multiple pairs of branches open, areciprocatory valve in said casing having passages for establishingcommunication between the multiple sets of branches of the main windpipe in one position of said valve and further to close the multiplesets of branches of the auxiliary Wind pipe, said valve further havingother passages for connecting the multiple sets of branches of the mainWind pipe with the multiple sets of branches of the auxiliary Wind pipein another position of said valve, and said valve constructed to operatewith a length of stroke substantially equal to the diameter of each ofsaid branches.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FERDINAND A. BUESCHER.

